Product Details

Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier

Looking for a high-quality headphone amp or to dip your toes in the world of tube audio? The Bravo Ocean headphone amplifier will let you do both! Smart, modern aesthetics and a small form-factor mean that this amp will find a home on any desktop. Gorgeous sound quality ensures that you'll be keeping it around for the long haul.

Signal input is through either RCA or 3.5mm stereo jacks. The output jack is 1/4" stereo, but an adapter is included for those using headphones with a 3.5mm plug. A 24 VDC 1A switching power supply is included.

Why Tube Amplification?

Many audio experts believe that technology is just now catching up with the sonic benefits offered by "old-fashioned" tubes. The simplicity of tube circuitry contributes to reduced parts counts and greater sonic clarity. Tubes use far less (if any) negative feedback compared to transistorized amplification circuits. If and when tubes do overload, their subjective sound quality is often preferred to the breakup characteristics of transistors. Although glass vacuum tubes appear fragile, they are robust electrically. They tolerate high peak voltages, and also withstand longer-term overload conditions better than their solid state equivalents.

Warning: California residents only. Please note per Proposition 65 that this product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Reviews

Rated 4 out of 5 by Dpark from Ear Candy for the demanding listenerI studied this little amp a few months back and passed as my system incorporates the Nuforce 2 DAC already. Glad to have come full circleand purchased this amp - my Grado SR225 headphones had been neeedingthis extra power to go to the next level!Without a lot of overkill I will say this mini tube amp gets better every listening session. With stock tube, highs are improving to the point where a new sound stage is developing and is extremely satisfying. The tube sound is evolving with great detail which will bring out flaws in the sound source. My friends come over and are simply blown away by the definition and high end experience this amp delivers, now they want to be gifted, buy one and find more enjoyment in listening to new music and old favorites.

Date published: 2014-05-29

Rated 3 out of 5 by billythekidd from Great (while it works)I've been wanting to try out a tube amp for a while, so when I saw this unit on steep discount back in December 2013, I jumped at the chance. After a nominal break in period, I have to say I really enjoyed the sound. I was using it as both a headphone amp and as a pre-amp for the rest of my system (when headphones weren't plugged in).It has worked great up until the last week or two, when the volume knob decided to start cutting out one channel. If I fiddle with it and wiggle it back and forth, the channel will come back, but it always ends up cutting out again. I called Parts Express support (they were a great help, by the way), who informed me that although most Parts Express items have a 1 year warranty, this particular item was only covered by the manufacturer for 60 days. Since I'm past that deadline and I'm not confident in my surface mount soldering skills, I guess I'm out of luck at this point.It was great while it lasted, but now it's an expensive paperweight.

Date published: 2014-05-20

Rated 5 out of 5 by ronnco from What a bargain amp...Got it on sale. Really sounds great with planar headphones (ZMF V1s)

Date published: 2014-01-30

Rated 5 out of 5 by apple55 from Good sound !A tube amp has a much warmer sound , a sold state amp.

Date published: 2014-01-28

Rated 5 out of 5 by Ampzilla from Small clean improves soundI bought this for my headphone addicted son. He tried on his Sennhieser, Bose, Sony and Bowers and Wilkins. He only used digital signals from his phone and PC but he noticed a quality increase right away. He was particularly impressed with the increase in output levels on the phones that were harder tyo drive.

Date published: 2014-01-24

Rated 5 out of 5 by Ging from great soundI live in montreal Canada and got this amp from parts express. very fast shipping and excellent product .

Product Q&A

Get your questions answered from other customerswho own this product or have experience with it.If your question requires design or troubleshooting information,please email tech@parts-expresss.com for a prompt reply.

Bravo Audio Ocean Mini Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier

Can this be used to run pc speakers from the 3.5 jack? Thanks

Asked by: Leeee

This requires a bit more information in order to proceed. Please contact our tech support for more help with this question, tech@parts-express.com or 800-338-0531 x1.

Answered by: MattP

Date published: 2015-03-19

Can I use this Bravo Audio Ocean as a pre-amp to one of your T-Amps like the Topping TP20-MK2 ?

Asked by: BrianU

It's not a preamp, it's a headphone amplifier. The output is stereo 1/4" headphone jack.

Answered by: MattP

Date published: 2015-01-23

What is the differents between Bravo Audio V1 Mini Valve Deluxe Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier and Bravo Ocean? Is it just the case?

Asked by: Mike229

They are different models/designs. V1 has only RCA inputs, no RCA outputs and they are side mounted versus rear mounted on the Ocean. Volume control and headphone jacks are also in different positions on the PCB. Also, V1 has on/off switch on rear instead of front.

Answered by: Lester

Date published: 2014-04-01

Does the volume knob control the RCA output signal?

Or is the rear-panel output just a signal 'pass-thru?'

Asked by: yeahdog31

The line output on the rear panel is simply a pass-through.

Answered by: MattP

Date published: 2015-06-25

Tube Preamp? (RCA Out)

Does the RCA out go through the Tube stage or is it just pass the Input through? I might want to use this as a hi-fi tube preamp in my home stereo (not just as a headphone amp). Thanks!

Asked by: m1k3

The Line Out on this amp is simply a pass through and does not go through the tube stage.